Electric-arc lamp.



UNITED. STATES JAMES A. BRENNAN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC-ARC` LANI P.

I i SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,209, datedDecember 18, 1900.

Application iiled September 11| 1897. Serial No. 651,392. tllo model.)

T0 all whom/ it' may 'con/cern:

Be it known that'I, JAMES A. BRENNAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Arc-Lamps,of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawingsforming'a. part of the same, inwhich-Y Figure l represents in frontelevation an arc-lamp, a portion of the hood being broken away. Fig. 2is an enlarged view of a portion of the feed-wire connected with thelower carbons and showing my improved feed-Wire guard. Fig. 3 is aperspective View of the locking-plate carried by the lamp-chimneys andheld against the board from which the lamp is suspended in order tomaintain the lamp in a vertical position, the plate shown in Fig. 3being adapted for a double lamp; and Fig. 4 is a top view of alocking-plate designed for a single lamp and having a portion brokenaway to disclose one of the clamping-screws.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in the class ofelectric lamps known as arc-lamps; and it has for its objects to providea guard for the feed-Wire throughout that section exposed either to theheat of the lamp or to the contact of the attendant in replacing thecarbons by which the insulation of the feed-Wire is liable to becomeimpaired and also to provide means whereby the lamp can be maintained ina true vertical position and held from being swayed by the wind or othercauses.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents in front elevation anarc-lamp supported upon a post A by meansl of the vertical rods B B,which sustain a horizontal board C, to which the hood D is attached andfrom which the lamp proper is suspended by means of metallic hooks E,attached to the board C and engaging hooks F, attached to the lamp, saidhooks constituting a part of the circuit through which an electriccurrent is supplied to the upper carbons.

G G denote the rod-tubes of the lam p,which in the present instance isrepresented as a needing protection.

double lamp or having two pairs of carbons consisting of the uppercarbons H H and the lower carbons I I. The lower carbons I I and globe Jare suspended by rods K K, and the lower carbons are supplied with anelectric current through a feed-Wire L, which is carl ried down incontact with the inner side of one of the rods K. The Wire L consists ofa metallic core cov ered with insulating material N in the usual manner,and to that portion of the feed-wire which is most exposed to the heatof the lamp I apply a metal guard inclosing the insulating material andconsisting of a closely-Wound coil of wire forming a flexible sleeve O,which is capable of being drawn on over the end of the feed-Wire andbrought into position to cover that portion subjected to the greatestheat or liable to be impaired by the attendant in replacing the carbons.The sleeve O is wound upon an arbor of sufficient length to protect as,much ofthe wire as needs protection and of the proper internal diameterto allow it to be slipped over the feed-wire, so it can readily beapplied to or removed from any lamp or a new one'substituted.

I am aware that it is not new to wind a coil of wire around an electriccable to form an outside armor to prevent mechanical injuries thereto,and I do not claim such; but my invention consists of a previously-woundcoil forming a sleeve adapted to be slipped over the end of thefeed-wire and adjusted in position to cover the portion of the feed-wireWhen placed in position, the sleeve O is capable of being bent to it theside of the arm B, as at P P', and is held in position by a wire O,wound around the sleeve O and the arm B.

The device, as represented in the accompanying drawings, for locking thelamp in a vertical position consists of a locking-plate R, (representedin perspective view in Fig. 3,) comprising the two clamping-blocks R'and R2, provided with holes Rs R3, fitting the rod-tubes G G, upon whichthe lockingplate is clamped by means of a tighteningscrew S. The upperside of the locking-plate is preferably provided with rubber blocks T,attached to the locking-plate and bearing against the under side of theboard C, from which the lamp is suspended, in order to allow the lamp toyield slightly, the tension of IOO the rubber blocks T also serving tohold the hooks E and F in close contact, so as not to impair thecircuit.

In. Fig. 4I have represented a locking-plate U, provided with a singlehole U', designed for a single lamp having but one rod-tube. The plate Uis provided with the rubber blocks T and is clamped upon the chimney bytwo clamping-screws S S, one upon each side of the chimney-opening U'.ing-screws S S engage nuts inserted in one of the clamping-blocks, oneof said nuts being represented at V, Fig. 4. The locking-plate 'R isslipped down on the rod-tubes Gr to allow the hooks E and F to beengaged when the locking plate R is pushed upwardly against the underside of the board C and clamped in position by means of theclamping-screws S, with the rubber blocks T preferably slightlycompressed and bearing against the under side of the board C, thorebyholding the lamp against. upward Inovernent, which would break theContact of the hooksE and F,and also holding the lamp from being swayedby the wind or other causes.

In case a feed-wire is employed for the upper set of carbons thelocking-plate R may be applied to the rod-tubes Gabove the board C andresting thereon either with or without a locking-plate upon the underside of the board, as represented. Therefore I do not confine myself t0the specific position of the locking-plate R or to the use of a singlelocking-plate on a lamp.

The essential feature of my locking device consists in the employment ofa plate carried by the lamp and parallel with the horizontal board C orthe hanger-board of the lamp, preferably with a yielding pressurebetween the plate and the hanger-board, said yielding pressure tendingto maintain the plate parallel with the board C, and thereby holding thelamp in a vertical position or restore the lamp in case it has beenmoved out of a Vertical position. For convenience Iconnect The clamp;m f

the plate to the lamp by clamping it to the rod-tubes; but I do notconfine myself to this method of supporting the locking-plate by thelamp.

It is customary in arc-lamps suspended from the board C to provide anopening through the center of the board of considerable size to receivethe rod-tubes G, and the space within the hood affords a secure andDinviting place for birds to build their nests. By clamping thelocking-plate to the rodtubes I am able to hold it sul'liciently nearthe board C to close this opening and prevent the access of birds to thehood of the lamp.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination with the lamp-tubes andhanger-board, of a plate adjustably attached to the lamp-tubes andbearing against the hanger-board, whereby the lamp is held from swaying,substantially as described.

2. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination with the lamp-tubes and ahanger-board, of a plate adjustably attached to said tubes and heldparallel with the hanger-board and yielding blocks interposed betweensaid plate and said hanger-board and in contact therewith, substantiallyas described.

3. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination with the rod-tubes andhanger-board, of a locking-plate, means for adjustably attaching saidlocking-plate to the rod-tubes of the lamp, whereby it is held in aposition parallel with the hanger-board, yielding cushions interposedbetween said locking-plate and said hanger-board and means forsupporting the lamp from said hanger-board, substantially as described.

Dated this 23d day of August, 1897.

JAMES A. BRENNAN.

Witnesses:

RUFUs B. FOWLER, M. C. PRICE.

